Indexing mechanism



Oct. 13, 1931.

M. 1-1. HILL nwnxms macmuxsn Filed Dec. 4, 1929 2 Sheets-Shani l 4 INVENTOR gull/ell H 3121 ials ATTORNE Oct. 13, 1931. M. H. HILL 1,827,007

INDEXING MECHANISM Filed Dec. 4. 1929 2 Sheets-Shani 2 INVENTOR well H Hill Patented 0a. 13, 1931 umfreen A S enema MAXWELL H.

HILL, "ROCHESTER, ZHEW YORK? Aes enon Te 'crnnnson WORKS, 201

"ROCHESTER, NEWYOBK, 'nconr'onur'r o u on NEW YORK v "rma'nxi-ne MEe nmsM App1ioati-on =-fi1ed iDecernberiA, 1929. Serial No. 4l1566r The present invention relates (to iindexing mechanism. for ,gear I cutting machines 1 and particularly toindexing mechnnismion gear generating machines in which the generating; motion isproducedrby oscillation 0i; a e-radle on Whiehithetool; ergblank isgmeunted and by roll of a segment Whichis connected to the Work spindle and meshes with; a; segment having fixed relationatofthe tool.

The purpose Of-this invention isto pro vide ail-indexing mechanism. which will be simple in operation anduniyersaliin charucte" of ciifierent toeth numbers,;andwhichis 0pi erated by: the I roll of the machine itself.

, f thente ti n is iilusnrated in the accompanying drawings, iii-Which:

Figure A preferred embodiment 1 is a perspective yiewi with parts 21 broken awey, ofavbevel geangenergatingqmachine on whichthe indexingmechanism of thepresent invent on 1s employed gu 2 iw ee me eey p a w f th s machine parts belllg i shown n sect on Figure 3 is a section on the line of Figure 2.10oking in' the Y direction oflthewarmews the scale be] ng slightly enlarged gure 4; is a sectionionan enlargedscale on the-line H of Figure 2 .lookingfin the in". direction of the arrows; and

Figure 5 isaperspective View ofcertain details of theindexingn echanism.

WV here quantity productionfis desined,1 it is usual to generate the gears onarmachine of 7'5" the segment type. In .suchinecliinegas already described, the generating auction, is pi-orlucedvby oscillation of the cradle on which the. tool of blanklis mounted and by roll ofthe segmentwhich: is connectedto; the work spindle on a relatively -stationaryygear segment (usually a crown gearrseg ment) which has a e iedrelationtothe tool. In such machines, it-is customary toemploy an indexin mechanism of the notched. plate typefand,

to avoid'a: complicated; drive tothe ork that-is, capable of indexing-foe gears p n le,- i th v pra t c 0 esigm u h ma-. chines, r so that the 7 generating 11011; itself :is used Ito actuate the indexing mechanism. :In

, an indexing mechanism ofthe notched -;plete type." howeven it is;requiredtliatgthelindex plate have thesame numberofnotches as there agne teeth, to: be cut in itheblank; This means that the index; plate must be changed Wh neve :it s de i e o; Queen r a e dz fterent toetl1' ,nu1nlaer on the; genenating Q mill:- chine. -Tl;1ese pl-atesgniust; be ground with great care'to eliminate inaccuracies I in the indexing oi thegear. itselfandtheyare, conthe roll: of thefinachine. "Werml-xand 0rm.

wheel indexing mechanisms have heretofore. been employed in practise only- Jon; machines of the geared roll! type (machines Where th generatinguroll is: obtained by aageared; connection betweenwthe work I spindle and cradle) and: then;- 011 153 where the: cutting tool Was mounted on the cradle. vfllhe presentim venti'on because of: the comparativesiinplicijty of the drive employed, permits ofeu singathisi uniyeisalrtypef oif indexing mechanism either in a machine inwhichthe: tool is. mounted on the cra'dle or in a machine in whichthe-work is mounted. on the cradlee-an'd permits, invaddition, ofemploying anindexing .mechauism of the universal type on a manufacturing ma chine of the segment roll type.

The machine illustrated in the drawings is a two tool straight tooth bevel gear generator of the type described in the pending application of Eyvind Finsen, Serial No. 312,173, filed @ctober 12, 1928, and reference may be had to that am lication for a description of the parts not specifically described herein.

10 indicates the base or frame of the machine. Upon this base or frame is slidably n'lounted the tool carrier 11 which is movable on the bed or .ie 10 for the purpose of feeding the tool into engagement with the blank to out the teeth and of withdrawing the tool eriodically from engagement with the blank to permit indexing the blank. One of the tools is shown at T.

The bed or frame 10 is formed at one end ".Vl'ml an upright portion 12 which is provided with uide-ways for the oscillating cradle 13. Mom d on the cradle 13 for angular adjustment thereon is the work head 1 1. The work head l i can be adjusted by hand to position the blank in the correct angular relation to the tool and can be secured in any adjusted position by means of the bolts 15. The work spindle 16 is ournaled in the work head 14. 'l'he gear blank G to be cut is secured to the work spindle 16 in any suitable manner as by the plate 17 and draw-bolt 17.

18 designates segment supporting arm on which is adjustably mounted the gear segment 19. This segment 19 meshes with a crown gear segment 20 that is pivotally mounted at 21 on a bracket 22 which is secured in fixed position on the machine. The segment arm 18 terminates in a semi-circular portion which its about the work spindle 16 and the segment arm is secured on the work spindle by the member 22, which is also formed with a semi-circular portion engaging the work spindle and by the bolts 23 which secure the member 22 and the arm 18 together.

The cradle is oscillated from a cam 25 through a cam lever 26 and the turn buckle member 27. The lever 26 is pivotally connected at one end. to the frame of the machine and at its other end to the lower end of the turn-buckle 27. intermediate its ends, the lever 26 carries the roller which engages the cam 25. The turn-buckle is pivotally connected at its upper end to the cradle. This construction is described in the application above mentioned and forms no part of the present invention.

It will be seen that as the cradle oscillates under actuation of the cam 25, the segment 19 will. roll on the crown gear segment 20 and if the segment 19 is connected to the work spindle that a rotary motion will be imparted to the work spindle. The two motions, namely, oscillation of the cradle and rotation of the Work spindle are required to generate the tooth profiles.

3O designates the index worm wheel. This worm wheel is secured to the worl spindle 16 by a key 31 which engages in the elongated "l slot 32 formed in the work spindle and which is bound into close engagement with the keyway by the thumb-screw 81. Journaled in the casting 22 is a worm shaft 33 to which is secured the index worm ll which meshes wit-h the index; worm wheel 30. A worm and worm wheel have a self-locking action and it is clear, therefore, that as long as the w rm shaft 33 is stationary the work spindle will move with the gear segment This is required during cutting, but t index the work spindle after a tooth has been generated, it is necessary to rotate the work spindle relative to the casting 22 and the segment 19.

Secured to the work head 11, as by means of the screws 36 is a bevel gear segment 37. This segment 37 is coaxial with the work spin-dle 16. The segment 37 has a flange or gib portion 38 which engages a collar 39 formed on the casting 22 to hold that casting and the segment arm 18 against axial movement on the wort spindle 16,

Journaled in anti-friction bearings ll and as in the casting 22 is a shaft e3. ltotatably mounted on this shaft is a sleeve L5 to which is secured, or with which is forn'ied integral, the ratchet wheel 46 and the bevel pinion Q7. The bevel pinion 4t? meshes with the bevel gear segment 3?. Secured to the shaft &3 or formed integral therewith is a stopplate 48. This stop plate 18 is formed at diametrically opposed points on its periphery 'ith notches 49. A pair of pawls 50 and 51 are pivotally mounted and 53, respectively, on this stop-plate 48. These pawls are adapted to engage the ratchet wheel d6 to transmit rotation from the ratchet wheel to the stop-plate 18 and the shaft 43.

The pawl 50 is formed with a lug 5% and the pawl 51 with a tail-piece 55. are connected to move together by a link 56 which is pivoted to the 58 and to the pawl 51 at 59. A coil sprm O 23 60 which is connected at one end to the link 56 and at its opposite end to the stop plate 48 serves to'urge the two pawls constantly into engagement with the ratchet wheel 4L6.

The pawls held out of engagement w' h the ratchet Wheel by a dog 61 which is p otally mounted at 62 on the casting 22. This dog 61 is so formed as to en alternately with the notches 49 of the p-plate and with the lug 5% of the pawl 50 or the tail piece 55 of the pawl 51. The dog 61 is con-- stantly urged into position to hold the pawls disengaged from the ratchet wheel by a spring-pressed plunger 64. which is housed in the lug 65 formed integral with the casting 22, and which engages; the outer :end o't' the dog61. 1 a

The shaft 43 is operatively connected with the index wormshatt 33 by theindexchange 1 gears 67,68,-- 69-and70'.

in the operation of the machine, as-thetool is fed into depth, the generating roll is imparted to the blank through oscillationot the cradle 13 which causes segment. 19.;torollon-the crown gear segment and impart a rotary motion to the work spindle. At this time, of course,-the work spindle 16 is. con-' nected to the segment 19. This connection is through the arm 18, the casting 22, the worm shaft 33 and worm 34, and the worm wheel The rolling motion of the segment 19on the crown gearsegment 20 causes the bevel gear 47 to roll on the bevel gear segment 37 but the pawls 50 and 51 .are held out of en,- gagem'ent with the rotating ratchetwheel 16 by means of the lock-dog 61. Hence, no motion is imparted to: the stop plate 48 and the shaft 13 so that the index worm shaft remainsstationary; Because ofthe-selflockingfeature of the worm and worm wheel dr 'e Set-30, then, they work spindle 16 moves with the gear segment 19 durihgcutting,

its the casting, 22 rotates-under actuation of the segment 19, the nose 72 formed on the locking dog '61 is brought into engagea trip member 73. This trip ment with member 73 is pivotally mounted on an car 7 2 which is formed integral with the work head 1%. This trip member 73 is free to move about its pivot. in one; direction against the resistance-of the spring 7 6- but is held against movement in the opposite direction. by: engagement of its inner end "face 77 with the adjacent face of the work. head 14. I

As the casting 22 rotates in the direction shown by the arrow in Figure 4:, then, the K nose 720i the dog 71 engages the tripmember T3. This trip member cannot swing about its pivot 75 because itsinner end face 77 is in engagement withthe' work head 1%. Hence, the dog 61 is swung about its pivot 62 a ainst the resistance of the springplung and the dog 61 is disengaged from ie s op plate dSand whicheverot the pawls 51 with which it has been incngagement; immediately the pawls; engagethe ratchet wheel 46 and the rotation of theratchet wheel is transmitted through the stop plate t8, the shaft 43, the indexcha'nge gears 67, 68, 69 and70, the worm shaft 33 and the index worm 34 to the index worm wheel 30 to rotate thework spindle 16: relative to the'casting 22 andsegmentarm 18 to in" dex the gear blank G. Asthe stop plate as rotates, the looking. dog 61 rides on its periphery. The stop-plate-nmkeshalf a). revolution and then the stop dog drops into engagement with a notch 49 oft-the: stop plate;

Q atthet-sa me time engaging the adjacent lug-1;;

'54 of the pawl .tO-orv tailpiece 55 of thepawl v51, as the case may be, disengaging the pawls' from; the ratchet wheel 46 and stopping the rotation of the index Worm and wheel;- This completes theindexing cycle. 7 The segment 19 'an'dwork spindle16 will new again move together. It is to be-noted that during the indexing operation, the tool head is with-v drawn. fromv engagement with the blank through operation of the feed cam.

After the indexing operationhas been completedand thestop-plate locked up again, the cradle will be reversed under actuation of the cam '25 and the dog 61 which has riddenover the trip 73 during the indexing, will be brought backinto engagement with the trip; This time, however, the dog 61 will r-oc-kthe-trip 73 out of the way against the resistance of the spring 77 and will not be disengaged from the stop plate or the pawls.

The work spindle is indexed, then, on roll in one direction only.

It is tobenotedthat then-revision of the stop-plate 41-8 is a precautional feature and that because of this stop-plate, it is not nec essary to depend solely upon the, self-locking characteristic of a worm and worm Wheel I drive-to insure that the work spindle will not rot-ate relative to the segment 19 during cuttmg. The casting 22 may he s formed to provide a guard, as shown, about the worm wheeh-BO; The: worm wheel 30 may have formed integral with it a sleeve SOwhich is internally threaded as shown. A. sleeve 81 whiclrsurrounds the outer end of the work spindle 16 is adapted to thread into the sleeve 80. The outerend face of this sleeve 81 is adapted to engage a washer or disc 82 which is rule 86 which surrounds the sleeve 80. This ferrule 86 may graduated, as shown, to read against an index mark scribed on the pe riphery ot the sleeve 80. It will be seen that by rotating the ferrule 86 the work spindle may be adjusted in or out axially to adjust the apex position of the gear blank to be out.

'While the invention has been described in connection with a particular embodiment, it

will be understood that it is capable of fur-' ther modifications and of use in connection ith various types of gear cutting machines.

It will be understood, then, that this application is intendedfto cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention, following, in general, the principles of the in-- .vention and including such departures from the present disclosure as comewithin known or customarypractise in the gearart and as may be applied to the essential teatureshereinhetore set. forth andzasttallwithin the lim- 1.

its of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. In a machine for producing gears, tool mechanism, a work support, a sleeve oscilatably mounted on the work support, a work spindle journaled in said sleeve, means for oscillating said sleeve, gearing connecting the sleeve with the work spindle, means for locksaid gearing against rotation during cutmeans whereby the oscillatory mo tion or the sleeve operates to rotate said gearing periodically to index the work spindle.

In a gear cutting machine, the combination with tool mechanism, a support, and a pair of members rotatably mounted on said support, one of said members being arranged to carry gear blank, a d means for rotating of said members, of gearing tor connecting said members and normally stationary to cause members to rotate together, and means for periodically connecting one of said members to said support to actuate said gearto index the work carrying member.

In a machine for produ g gears, the combination or" a tool mechanism, a support, pair of members rotatably mounted on said support, one of said members being arranged to carry a gear blank, a worm and worm wheel connecting said members to cause them to rotate together when said worm is stationary, means for rotating one of said members and means for periodically connecting said worm to said support to effect, by the resulting relative movement between said members, rotation of the worm to ind-ex the blank carryii'ig member.

In a. machine for producing gears, the ()Oil'lblllt tion of a tool mechanism, a support, a pair of members rotatably mounted on said support, one of said members being arranged to carry a gear blank, a worn. and worm whee connecting said members to cause them to rotate together when the worm is stationary, means for rotating one of said members and means whereby the rotation oil said member periodically effects rotation of the worm to index the blank carrying n'iembcr.

In a gear cutting machine, the combination wits sleeve and means for import ing an oscillatory motion thereto, of a work spindle rotatable within the sleeve, a worm and worm wheel connecting the work spindle and sleeve and adapted to oscillate with the latter, means operated by oscillation of said sleeve for rotating said worm, and means adapted to connect said last named means to said worm to actuate the same at a predetermined point in the oscillation of said sleeve to index the work spindle.

6, In a. gear cutting machine, the combination with sleeve and means for imparting an oscillating motion thereto, of a work spindle rotatable in said sleeve, a member driven continuously by said sleeve during its oscillation, means normally preventing connection of said member with the work spindle, and means operatng to efi'ect said connection at a predetermined point in the oscillation of said sleeve.

7. In a. machine for producing gears, a sleeve, means for imparting an oscillating motion to said sleeve, a work spindle rotatable in said sleeve, a worm and worm Wheel connecting the work spindle and sleeve to cause them to oscillate together, a member driven continuously by the sleeve in its oscillotion, means normally preventing connection or" said member with said worm, and means operating to effect said connection at a predetermined point in the oscillation of said sleeve to index said work spindle.

8. In a machine for producing gears, a tool mechanism, a sleeve, a work spindle j ournal'ed in said sleeve, means for oscillating said sleeve, a worm and worm wheel connecting sleeve and work spindle and adapted to be actuated to index said work spindle relative to said sleeve, gearing for rotating said worm and wheel, means whereby oscillation of said sleeve operates said gearing, means preventing connection of said gearing with said worm during cutting, and a member adapted to be engaged by'said l named means a preoetermined ooint in the oscillatory movement of said sleeve to trip said sleeve and permit connection of said gearing with said worm.

9. In a machine for producing gears, a tool mechanism, a sleeve, a work spindle rotatable in said sleeve, means for oscillating said sleeve, a worm and worm wheel connecting the sleeve and spindle to oscillate together, a ratchet wheel, means for rotating the ratchet wheel on oscillation of said sleeve, a pawl adapted to cooperate with the ratchet wheel to connect said ratchet Wheel to said worm to rot-ate together, means holding said pawl out of engagement with the ratchet wheel, and means for releasing said pawl at a. predetermined point in the oscillation of said sleeve to permit the same to engage said ratchet wheel.

10. In amachine for producing gears, a tool mechanism, a sleeve, work spindle rotatably mounted in said sleeve, means for oscillating said sleeve, secured to the work spindle, gearing operable on oscilla tion of said sleeve to impart rotation to said gear to index the work spindle, said gearing being disconne ted from said gear during cutting and means whereby the oscillation of said sleeve acts periodically to connect said gearing to said gear.

11. In a gear generating machine, a tool mechanism, a blank carrier, a blank spindle rotatably mounted therein, means for rolling the blank carrier bodily to generate the tooth profiles, gearing operable to rotate the blank spindle to index the same, a rotary member, means operable on oscillation of said lank carrier for rotating said member, means preventing connection of said member with said gearing during cutting, and means whereby said rolling movement operates automatically to release said last named means at predetermined intervals and simultaneously connects said rotary member to said train of gearing to index the blank.

12. In a machine for producing gears, a tool mechanism, and a work spindle, an oscillatory cradle upon which one of said parts is mounted, a gear segment having a fixed relation to the tool mechanism, a second gear segment adapted to mesh with the first segment,

a worm and wheel connecting the second segment to the work spindle adapted to remaln stationary during cutting so that the work spindle will move with the second segment, means for oscillating the cradle, and means whereby the oscillation of the cradle actuates said worm and wheel to rotate the work spindle at a predetermined point in the roll of the cradle to index the work spindle.

13. In a machine for producing gears, a tool mechanism, and a work spindle, an oscillatory cradle upon which one of said parts is mounted, a gear segment having a fixed relation to the tool mechanism, a second gear segment adapted to mesh with the first, means adapted to connect the segment to the work spindle including a gear mounted on the work spindle, means whereby the oscilla- 1 tion of the cradle is adapted to rotate said gear to index the work spindle, means preventing operative connection of said last named means to said gear during cutting,

and means whereby the motion of the cradle operates to trip said last named means at a predetermined point in the osclllation of the cradle to permit indexing.

14:. In a machine for producing gears, a tool support and a work support, a tool mechanism mounted on the tool support, a work spindle rotatably mounted on the work support, an oscillatory cradle upon which one of said supports is mounted, a gear segment having a fixed relation to the tool mechanism, a second gear segment adapted to mesh with the first segment, a gear mounted on the work spindle for connecting the work spindle to the second segment so that the two move together durin cutting, and means for periodically connecting said gear to its supportto eiiect relative rotational movement between. the spindle and the second segment to' index the work spindle.

15. In a machine for producing gears, a tool support, a tool mechanism mounted on he tool support, a work support, a Work spindle rotatably mounted on the work support, an oscillatory cradle upon which one of said supports is mounted, a gear segment having a fixed relation to the tool mechanism,a second gear 1 segment adapted to mesh with the first, 'z'rwornr and-F worm wheel connecting the second segment with the work spindle tdrotats "togetl'ier',;means whereoy the relative moti on: betweenthe second A segment andv ithe worksupport is adapted to effect rotation of tlie work'spindle relative to theseoond segment-for indexing. locking mean s adapted to prevent the last; named motion during cuthaving a fixed relation to thetool mechanism,-

a second gear segment adapted to mesh with the first, a worm and worm wheel connecting the second segment withthe work spindle to rotate together, means for oscillating the cradle to produce a relative rolling motion between the tool mechanism and work spindle, and instrumentalities whereby the rolling motion acts automatically to connect the worm to the work support periodically to rotate the same for indexing the work spindle.

17. In a machine for producing gears. tool support, a tool mechanism mounted on the tool support, a work support, a work spin dle rotatably mounted on the work support, and oscillatory cradle upon which one supports is mounted, a gear segment having afixed relation to the tool mechanism, a second gear segment adapted to mesh with the first, a worm wheel secured to the work spindle, aworm carried'b'y the second segment and meshing with said worm wheel, a third segment carried by the work support, a gear meshing with the third segment and adapted to be rotated on relative movement between the second segment and work support, means adapted to 'connect said gear to the worm to drive the same, locking means preventing said connection during cutting, and means for tripping said locking means at a predetermined point in the roll of the cradle.

18. In a machine for producing sears, a

tool mechanism and a work support, a reciprocable carrier upon which one of said parts the work support, a work spindle journaled work spindle.

19; In a machine for producing gears, a tool mechanism, a work support, a pair of members rotatably mounted on the Work support, one of said members being arranged to carry a gear blank, means for oscillating one of said members, a stationary gear, gearing carried by the oscillating member meshing With said stationary gear and rotated thereby as the oscillatory member oscillates, locl ing means for securing said members to rotate together during cutting, and means for periodically releasing said locklng means and connecting said gearing to the other members to produce relative movement between said members to lndex the Work carrying member.

MAXWELL H. HILL. 

